Two Salt Point residents raise parking concerns

WATKINS GLEN—Concerns over parking brought comments on Watkins Glen’s new raw water intake plant, at the monthly planning board meeting, Wednesday, Aug. 18.Two Salt Point Road residents attended the public hearing on the project. After comments were heard, the board ended up approving the final site plan for the intake building. The two residents were Sue Brace and Rob Kurboca.Kurboca said he and his wife have been using the empty space across the street as parking, as there is no space along side the road. He says he knows this is village owned land, and the site of the new raw water intake plant. He explained they weren’t aware of the project when the house was purchased two years previously.Brace, who also lives across the street from where the new plant will be, said there is no place to park alongside the road. She explained this is because of the heavy truck traffic Salt Point Road gets. Trucks use the road to access U.S. Salt, which is farther north on the road. She added her concerns for available parking with the Magee Point Landing project which will create apartments and a restaurant out of the current raw water intake plant.The current plant is right next to the property for the new plant. Planning board President Joe Fazzary said parking was previously satisfied when the Magee project came before the village and county boards.Code Enforcement Officer Gordon Wright said the plan included around 60 parking spots. He said those spots would be created, and not make use of roadside parking.In other business:The planning board also held a public hearing for the proposed Oriental Hibachi Buffet Restaurant at 511 North Franklin St. No public commented, and the board approved the final site plan.